Do I need a visa for South Africa?:

Subject to change without notice- Updated: 25 September 2012

Passport holders who are exempt from South African Visas

The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official or ordinary) of the foreign countries / territories / international organization listed below are not required to hold a visa when reporting to an immigration officer for an examination at a South African port of entry, subject to the terms and conditions set out in this list, including inter alia, the intended period of stay in the Republic.

1. The holder of a national South African passport, travel document and document for travel purposes.

2. The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official or ordinary) of the following countries / territories / international organizations is not required to hold a visa in respect of purposes for which a visitor’s permit may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [diplomatic and official visit] for an intended stay of 90 days or less and when in transit.

African Union laissez-passer

Greece

San Marino

Andorra

Iceland

Singapore

Argentina

Ireland

Spain

Australia

Israel

St. Vincent & the Grenadines

Austria

Italy

Sweden

Belgium

Jamaica

Switzerland

Botswana

Japan

Tanzania

Brazil

Liechtenstein

Trinidad and Tobago

Canada

Luxembourg

United Kingdom of Great Britain*

Chile

Malta

British Overseas Territories**

Czech Republic

Monaco

United States of America

Denmark

Netherlands

Uruguay

Ecuador

New Zealand

Venezuela

Finland

Norway

Zambia

France

Paraguay

Zimbabwe***

Germany

Portugal

* Northern Ireland, British Islands, Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey, Isle of Man.

**British Overseas Territories who are in possession of British passports namely: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St. Helena and Dependencies (Ascension Island, Gough Island and Tristan da Cunha), Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, the Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the Turks and Caicos Island.

***Zimbabwe (*temporary measure until further notice)

3. The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official and ordinary) of the following countries / territories / international organizations is not required to hold a visa in respect of purposes for which a visitor’s permit may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [diplomatic and official] visit for an intended stay of 30 days or less and when in transit:

Antigua and Barbuda

Guyana

Mozambique

Bahamas

Hong Kong*

Namibia

Barbados

Hungary

Peru

Belize

Jordan

Poland

Benin

Lesotho

Seychelles

Bolivia

Macau**

Slovak Republic

Cape Verde

Malaysia

South Korea

Costa Rica

Malawi

Swaziland

Cyprus

Maldives

Thailand

Gabon

Mauritius

Turkey

*Hong Kong [only with regard to holders of Hong Kong British National Overseas passports and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports]

**Macau [only with regard to holders of Macau Special Administrative Region passports (MSAR)]

4. Agreements have also been concluded with the following countries for holders of diplomatic and official passports.

Citizens who are holders of diplomatic, official and service passports of the following countries do not require visas in respect of purposes for which a visitor’s permit may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [diplomatic and official visit] for the period indicated and transit

Albania

120 days

Mexico

90 days

Algeria

30 days

Madagascar

30 days

Angola

90 days

Morocco

30 days

Belarus

90 days

Mozambique

90 days

Bulgaria

90 days

Paraguay

120 days

China (PROC)*

30 days

Poland

90 days

Cyprus

90 days

Romania

90 days

Comoros

90 days

Russian Federation

90 days

Croatia

90 days

Rwanda

30 days

Cuba

90 days (per annum)

Slovak

90 days

Egypt

30 days

Slovenia

120 days

Guinea

90 days

Tanzania

90 days

Hungary

120 days

Thailand

90 days

India

90 days

Tunisia

90 days

Ivory Coast

30 days

Vietnam

90 days

Kenya

30 days

*China (PROC) 30 days - diplomatic passport holders only

Notwithstanding this Schedule, a foreigner whose visa exemption has been withdrawn shall comply with the visa requirements until notified by the Department that his or her visa exemption has been reinstated by the Department on petition or of its own accord.

Visas are not required by passport holders of Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Malawi who are entering the Republic as commercial heavy-duty vehicle drivers provided their visits do not exceed 15 days and on condition that they can produce a letter confirming their employment with a transport company on entry.

The same principle applies to Zimbabwean commerical heavy-duty vehicle drivers, except that their sojourn may not exceed 30 days at a time. The aforementioned does not apply to a commercial heavy-duty vehicle drivers who transport goods for a South African transport company. Such drivers must be in possession of a valid work permit.

Staff members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) who travel on SADC laissez-passers are exempt from visa requirements for bona fide business visits up to 90 days and transit.

The following categories of the UN as well as their spouses, dependent relatives and other members of the households are exempt from visa requirements when visiting the Republic for periods not exceeding 90 days for purposes for which a visitor’s permit may be issued, and for official business purposes and transits and when accredited for placement at a UN mission in the Republic for the duration of their accreditation, provided they are in possession of the relevant letters or identification documents to identify themselves at ports of entry as personnel of a UN agency.

Holders of United Nations Laissez-passers

Volunteers attached to the UN

Persons involved in any United Nations agency

Persons performing services on behalf of the UN

Members of military forces attending any military related matters with the South African National Defence Force are exempt from visa and study permit requirements, irrespective of their duration of stay provided they are in possession of letters of invitation from the SANDF as well as letters of consent from the military force of which they are members.

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